Last summer the Los Angeles Urban Rangers in conjunction with MOCA's Engagement Party hosted the River Ramble, an urban nighttime hike exploring the Los Angeles River. The event served to inform the public of the river's presence and expose nature in Downtown L.A., with family activities and enthusiastic guides leading a unique journey.

As part of our StoryShare initiative, Departures collected over 30 stories from the urban hikers, many of whom were experiencing the L.A. River for the first time. Many came with media-informed ideas of the river, from movies like Grease and Terminator, but left with a renewed perspective. As downtown bridges stretched into the horizon, together with the concrete walls a geometric portrait of nature was formed from the river's banks - an illustration of industrial beauty in contrast to the river's dismal reputation as a sewage ditch. Don't miss the video above for a recap of the River Ramble and stories from the urban hikers.

The Los Angeles River may be the most famous forgotten river in America, but with our collective efforts we can change that.

Here are a few tips to keep the Los Angeles River in our minds and help regain its beauty:

» LISTEN. Find out what your local community is saying about the river through personal anecdotes.

» LEARN. Discover the culture and history of the Los Angeles River along its 52-miles starting with the Sepulveda Basin down through Long Beach.

» INTERACT. Journey the Los Angeles River yourself or with your friends and family with our definitive L.A. River Field Guide covering fishing, horse-riding, sightseeing, family-friendly activities, walking and bike trails.

» ADVOCATE. As the Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan moves forward with development, the voices and concerns of the community are crucial. Join us in advocating for the river revitalization by completing this survey.

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